IPL: Number of matches played by Kings XI Punjab players for Team India

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has made a big name for itself in the world cricket. The tournament provides the ideal opportunity for the youngsters to rub shoulders with the international greats. Such has been the impact of the tournament on the Indian cricket, that it is now seen as the breeding ground of talented youngsters in India. In the recent years, there have been several players who have been picked in to the Indian side directly without having played much of the First Class cricket.

The IPL puts players under immense pressure situations and hence, the temperament levels are tested to the core. Much like every other team, even the Kings XI Punjab have given several players to the national side in the recent times. Albeit their personal form has been poor, they have had individual brilliance in their camp.

Here we look at the number of matches played by the Kings XI Punjab players for Team India since the inception of IPL:

For the numbers, the Kings XI Punjab failed to give any national player to the Indian team in the 2013 edition of the tournament. This saw a sudden jump in the 2014 edition with as many as 14 matches played by the Indian team that featured a player from the Kings XI Punjab camp.

This had a lot to do with the fact that the Kings had finished as the finalists in the season. In the year that followed, 13 matches were played by the Indian team with players from the KXIP team. In the year 2016, the number increased to 16 matches and then it decreased yet again last year with the count being 15.

KXIP players who made most of their opportunity

The name that created the ripple of the highest order from the Kings XI Punjab camp was all-rounder Axar Patel. Axar was one of the leading players for the Kings in the 2014 edition of the tournament. His impressive show had fetched him the award of the Emerging Player of the Season. Also, it saw him fast-tracked in to the Indian team.

Another name that showed huge promise was pacer Sandeep Sharma. Sandeep went on to play 2 T20Is for the Indian team. Sandeep has parted ways with the franchise this season. Among the others, there were big names like Murali Vijay and Ishant Sharma.

KXIP players to lookout for this year

In the upcoming season, the Kings XI Punjab boasts of several big stars like KL Rahul and Karun Nair. Both the Karnataka batsmen have made occasional appearances for the Indian team in the past. Also, the likes of Mayank Dagar and Manzoor Dar would be hoping to break in to the national side with their brilliance in the IPL.

Mayank Dagar had a brilliant outing in the U19 World Cup in the year 2016. On the other hand, Dar is a hard hitting batsman from Jammu and Kashmir. Also, the KXIP team has the services of Mayank Agarwal, who has been in a purple patch in the domestic season this year.

Table: Matches played by KXIP players for the Indian team (year-wise)

For the latest cricket news, follow CricTracker.